How the Pandemic Allowed Me to Homeschool My Kids. Though It’s Actually Illegal.

How I got around compulsory schooling in Germany.

Before I had my kids I didn’t even know anything about homeschooling or couldn’t even imagine that this would be my absolute passion (besides writing). As a university student my focus was only on studying, learning, working, writing and making enough academic references for my future life to get a full time job at a big publisher or at an editorial office. During that time I worked in several print or online editorial offices to finance my expenses and get more writing experiences.

As a result: I was on the best way to achieve this goal.

But then I met my soulmate, married him and I suddenly lost all connections to my goal.

I canceled my master’s degree for being a full time mom

I had my first child pretty quickly. Every new parent know this is a crazy time: full of restrictions, lack of sleep and low energy, almost to self-abandonment.

But overall I loved the time with my little one, watching how quickly it growed and developed all its tiny functions and skills to big ones in such a short time. I fell in love with this progress.

I knew I couldn’t continue with my studies to the full extent as before. While my baby slept, I read a lot of books about raising children and promoting them. I became aware that early learning in a familiar environment is the best way to improve the skills of your child. And since there is no obligation in Germany for bringing your little child to a day care center or kindergarden, I decided to cancel my master’s degree and from then on I was a full time mom.

My family and friends were skeptical if I was going the right path. They thought I gave up on myself. I was the rising star of the family, the first one going to the university, the first one with a bachelor degree, always goal-oriented, organized, productive, brave and with the best opportunities to get the dream job. Everytime we met I had to explain and defend myself. They didn’t even know that the kindergarden is not obligatory. In conclusion: in Germany homeschooling is nor a desired lifestyle neither was it ever legal.

The Compulsory School Attendance Interrupted Our Homeschooling Routine

Then the second child was born and I began to homeschool my first child more intense and more focused and overall prepared. I bought several preschool study books, got a card for the library and learned how to homeschool by simply trying it out. As my second one got older it also turned into homeschooling.

Both of them succesfully learned all essential skills in math, reading and writing in the German language, spelling English words, doing arts and crafts, nature studies, music, ballet, sports and so on. Their creativity and willingness to learn and explore was infinite. Everyday they painted, drawed or crafted new amazing artworks. They learned all subjects faster and better than their friends of the same age. Finally my children could read books, write messages, do math tasks and be creative on their own, both at the age of four. And they loved their independance and homeschooling.

Then my first child became six years old. For the first time I had no chance to say ‘NO, I don’t want my child going to school. I want it being at home. We love homeschooling.’ Noone did hear me. Noone did ask me. Everyone assumed and played along with the fact that you have to hand over your child to the educational custody of the state. If not to a kindergarden then for sure to the elemantary school.

But I didn’t give up. For a year I searched for an alternative school form where I can send my child to school in good conscience. A school which has optional eductional and pedagogic solutions in learning, child-led learning like Montessori or Mason or Waldorf etc. But not a single school — neither a free nor private one — could offer me what I was looking for.

Ultimately, I was forced to let my kid go to the local state school.

After only two months at this school I noticed that my child’s energy and motivation turned significantly low, even though she got good grades in every single subject.

My first thought was that the subject contents from the first grade were to easy, so that she was too bored to go on motivated. I told the class teacher what I was noticing and she forwarded me to another extern teacher who in the coming weeks tested the child’s knowledge and level of learning in math, reading, writing and logic. The results were surprising. In each test the results were above average.

A few weeks later — it was exactly half of the school year — my child was placed in the second grade. She was allowed to skip a grade to be finally surrounded with new learning topics for which she was more motivated and engaged with.

We all were happy for her and — after all that happened — were pleased with the final process completion.

For the First Time, Homeschooling Was Legalized In Germany Due To the Pandemic

Suddenly, the Corona Pandemic spread across the globe and made homeschooling in Germany legal over night, for the first time ever in history.

The whole country went into distance learning, every school was closed, all cities were shut down. The normal life suddenly took place only in flats or houses, mostly surrounded by the family members.

My child was in the second grade just for four weeks as the three month lockdown began. During that lockdown the compulsory school attendance was suspended. Every class went into distance learning with video conferences, teacher calls and online learning programmes.

After three months, as the lockdown was over, nothing was like before.

The minister of education of our region gave an interview where she announced that from now on all parents living in this region — unfortunately not the whole country — have the right to leave their children at home, in fear of the risk of infection from Corona, without any special permission. In other regions, unfortunately, parents had to go a long journey to get this far. In the result the minister said:

Due to the pandemic, every parent who suffers from the constant change of tuition is allowed to leave their child at home for an indefinite period of time, without great justification or medical or school permission.

They just have to send an informal e-mail to the relevant school with the child’s data and explain that they don’t want their child to be at school due to the pandemic. Every school has to accept this decision. So ours, too.

The minister of education added:

But parents are required to keep their children studying, supporting them in learning and that they regularly hand in their homework.

That was a revolution. I couldn’t believe nor imagine that any form of homeschooling would ever be allowed in Germany. This was my only chance to legally homeschool my children. As homeschooling is only allowed in my region, what could it be other than fate?

I immediately sent the obligatory e-mail and got a reply with a number of a distance learning teacher. The next day I was allowed to pick up all school supplies, all books and other relevant materials.

Since then, this teacher has been accompanying all distance learning children via video conferences and calls. But she only does that once per week.

Since then, I am the one who has a look at my child. I am the one who manages the weekly learning plan. I am the one who makes sure that she learns all the important information and content. I am the one who learns with her together, watch videos with her together and does control her tasks and homework before we send them per e-mail or put them in a special box in front of the school.

Since then, homeschooling is the order of the day again. That’s all I wanted.

In the last school year my child blossomed again. She could recharge with new motivation and energy. All her grades are always good. Their teachers are very pleased with her. Now and then she has to go to school for an exam which she masters super well each time. She loves homeschooling as I do. So, recently my youngest said: ‘Mom, I also don’t want to go to school like my sister. Please, do homeschooling with me, too. So I can always learn with you together. ‘

ncl

I you like this story, you might also like the following:

Cover photo: Markers and colored pencils next to a mask/ M. Perfectti — stock.adobe.com